Day 4: Worlds of Wonder

Welcome to Day 4 of Worlds of Wonder blog hop. I offer multiple thanks to Gaele, the book reviewer at I am, Indeed, for volunteering to be my interview victim. I learned so much from her, I’m dying to hear what other readers have to say in response to the same questions. So chose one or all the questions and answer away! Do you agree with Gaele? Disagree? I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Gaele, with all the private free book giveaways and free book promotions, do you still buy books? How often? What kinds of books do you buy, if you still buy them?

I buy far more books than I have time to read, sadly. I’m eclectic – the only genre I don’t read is horror – of late I’ve been buying paper copies of favorite books I have found reading for tours or reviews, and I am always a sucker for a cute children’s book – those I may thumb through – but usually end up in a donation pile for a shelter or organization that serves others – Hosea Feed the Homeless is my current favorite. But – the UPS man knows me by first name – he’s here delivering books and book-related things so often.

What's your favorite genre?

I don’t think I actually have a “favorite” genre, for me it’s all about the writing and the characters. If I can become attached to a character and care about what they do next – I’m hooked on that author or series.

What makes you fall in love with a book?

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I read a lot of books, of all types and genres. I have two items that move a book up the list. First is the introduction to a new world view: I believe that three-quarters of the angst and strife that we experience in the world outside of the reading room can be lessened by getting a point of view through fictionalization from someone very different to you and the world you live in. Books that explain, show and provide a viewpoint on something that is foreign to my experience have gone a long way to informing my decisions in the real world, sometimes art can influence views in life. That’s the surefire way to get me to pass a book around and beat people with it until they buy and read. The second is characters – if I am still remembering a character, or a line (I have a horrible memory for quotes, song lyrics, lines from movies) weeks after, or I think “I wish character X in this book was more like Y from that book” – that’s a keeper and a reread.

What do authors do that drives you crazy?

Gratuitous or superfluous anything: sex, nudity, metaphor, or analogy. Over-use of a word that they may be hoping to make “universal” or just not thinking of a synonym. Missed historical facts, or inappropriate language use to the time – Gay in the 1800’s was different from today’s connotations, for example. Characters that are either ALL bad or ALL good – even paranormal characters come in shades of grey.

What do authors do that you most appreciate?

I do a ton of blog tours, and review from direct request. Saying thank you – really, that’s the most important. And know that if you have a question about a review I’ve written – asking me to elaborate on the reasoning rather than telling me why I’m wrong goes much further with me. Sharing post information to their social networks to drive traffic to my site is always nice if I’m hosting your book for a day. Also – if you send other authors my way when you are pleased with what I have done for you: I’ve had a bunch of authors rolling my way from 2 or 3 indie authors who were featured and shared the information.

What would you like to see more of or less of in the stories you read?

I don’t have a ‘preference’ really, make me want to read it by ensuring it’s well edited – I don’t want to read a preview with a blue pencil.

Is there anything else you'd like me to know, or that you'd like to tell writers in general?

Write what you love, with love- then edit. Ruthlessly. Then write some more. Test the ideas out with others, with beta readers. Don’t write insert idea here because it’s the new trend – followers are never trendy.

Lastly – thank you. If it weren’t for authors – I wouldn’t have the opportunity to find my joy in reading.

Gaele, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! I loved this opportunity to hear what you had to say to me and to authors everywhere.

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